Golf ball teeing device

ABSTRACT

A golf ball teeing device comprises a base member and a hopper. A golf ball delivery track is substantially straight between its proximal end and its distal end, and is mounted adjacent the proximal end on the base member for substantially vertical travel between a lowered rest position and a raised ball teeing position. A golf ball placement aperture is disposed adjacent the distal end. A support receives the golf balls in seriatim from the hopper and presents each received golf ball for subsequent delivery to the track. An actuation mechanism moves the golf ball delivery track from the lowered rest position to the raised ball teeing position and subsequently back to the lowered rest position, and permits selective delivery of the golf balls presented by the support sequentially onto the golf ball delivery track for subsequent placement on the tee.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to golf ball teeing devices, and more particularly to golf ball teeing devices that accurately place golf balls on a tee, and that are useable both at home and at a golf practice facility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The game of golf has been played for several centuries and is one of the most popular sports in the world. Presently, golf is played by tens of millions of people in many countries of the world.

[0003] The game of golf requires a high degree of concentration and skill, and accordingly a significant amount of practice is required on an ongoing basis in order to play the game of golf competently. In order to accommodate the need for practice for millions of golfers, golf practice facilities provide a golf ball driving range where a golfer can hit golf balls using a selected club from a designated turf area or from a constructed practice platforms comprising an artificial grass mat overlying a base and golf tee extending upwardly through the mat.

[0004] A golfer pays a fee for the temporary use of several dozen golf balls, with each of the golf balls being hit from the tee, one golf ball after another. In order to maximize training effectiveness, a golfer typically attempts to make the same swing each time, for any given club, and accordingly needs as few distractions as possible, in order to get into a rhythm and also in order to maintain concentration.

[0005] Typically, the worst distraction encountered while practising tee shots at a driving range is that of picking up a next golf ball and placing it on the tee. This activity breaks the golfers concentration after each shot, which is highly undesirable. Further, if a golfer has found a stance that seems to be both correct and comfortable, it is undesirable for that stance to be interrupted after each shot as it is difficult to re-gain a correct and comfortable stance for the next shot. Further, re-adjusting one's stance between shots is time consuming.

[0006] Also, it is quite common for the golf ball to fall off the tee once it has been placed on the tee, which is an extreme nuisance and distraction.

[0007] Additionally, having a golfer manually place a golf ball on the tee for each shot is time-consuming and slows down the overall pace of practising.

[0008] Finally, some golfers, especially older golfers, find it somewhat difficult to place a golf ball on the practice tee, especially when this must be performed for several dozen iterations during a short period of time.

[0009] There are dozens of prior art devices for automatically teeing up golf balls for practice purposes. However, there are very few golf practice facilities where golf ball teeing devices are available for use. It is believed that one of the reasons for this lack of available ball teeing devices in the driving range of golf practice facilities is the lack of accuracy exhibited by most prior art golf teeing devices in placing golf balls on a tee.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,518 issued Aug. 27, 1996 to Wang discloses a Golf Ball Dispensing Device With Lightly-pivotal Track. This patent is typical of many prior art patents in that a track is pivotally mounted on a housing for movement between an inactive state wherein the arm is disposed substantially vertically and an active state wherein the arm is disposed somewhat horizontally. In use, when a ball is to be dispensed onto a tee, a lever is pushed, which causes the track to pivot downwardly such that the distal end of the track is at the tee. A golf ball rolls along the track to the tee. This type of golf ball teeing device can have an inherent problem in that any play or looseness of the mounting of the arm can translate to the distal end of the arm being slightly horizontally displaced compared to its ideal ball dispensing position.

[0011] There are two known prior art patents that teach golf ball teeing devices that appear to present a slightly more accurate approach to teeing a golf ball.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,862 issued Oct. 26, 1999 to Yates discloses an Apparatus For Dispensing And Teeing Golf Balls. This apparatus has a main housing that holds the golf balls for dispensing onto a tee via a track that comprises a continuous loop of wire. The track is rotatably mounted about a pivot member within the interior of the housing. The track member is movable between an inactive state as shown in FIG. 1, and an active state as seen in FIG. 2, wherein the track member is elevated to allow placement of a golf ball on the tee Out of necessity, the track member has a sloped proximal portion leading outwardly and downwardly from the housing and a distal portion that is level when the track member is in it inactive state and is sloped downwardly away from the tee when the track member is in its active state dispensing and teeing a golf ball. Inclusion of the sloped portion is highly undesirable since it imparts a significant speed to the golf ball. Further, downward slope of the distal portion away from the tee is highly undesirable since the ball is rolling against gravity as it tries to reach the tee.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,177 issued Mar. 31, 1964 to Benkoe to a Golf Ball Dispensing and Teeing Device. The Golf Ball Dispensing and Teeing Device is similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,862 to Yates, in that a track member is pivotally mounting to a housing and has a sloped proximal portion and a distal portion that is substantially horizontal in a lowered inactive state and is sloped downwardly back toward the housing in an active state wherein a golf ball is being dispensed and placed onto a tee. Again, inclusion of the sloped portion is highly undesirable since it imparts a significant speed to the golf ball. Further, downward slope of the distal portion away from the tee is highly undesirable since the ball is rolling against gravity as it tries to reach the tee.

[0014] It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf ball teeing device.

[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf ball teeing device that is accurate in placing golf balls on a tee.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel golf ball teeing device for placing serially dispensed golf balls onto a tee one at a time. The golf ball teeing device comprises a base member and a hopper mounted on the base member for receiving and retaining a plurality of golf balls. A golf ball delivery track has a proximal end and a distal end, and is mounted adjacent the proximal end on the base member for substantially vertical travel between a lowered rest position and a raised ball teeing position. A golf ball placement aperture is disposed adjacent the distal end. A golf ball disposed on the golf ball delivery track rolls to the golf ball placement aperture when the golf ball delivery track is in the golf ball teeing position. A support means is provided for receiving the golf balls in seriatim from the hopper and presenting each received golf ball for subsequent delivery to the track. An actuation means is provided for moving the golf ball delivery track from the lowered rest position to the raised ball teeing position and subsequently back to the lowered rest position, and for selectively delivering the golf balls presented by the support means sequentially onto the golf ball delivery track for subsequent placement on the tee.

[0017] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel golf ball teeing device for placing serially dispensed golf balls onto a tee one at a time. The golf ball teeing device comprises a base member and a hopper mounted on the base member for receiving and retaining a plurality of golf balls. A golf ball delivery track has a proximal end and a distal end, is substantially straight between said proximal end and said distal end, and is mounted adjacent the proximal end on the base member for substantially vertical travel between a lowered rest position and a raised ball teeing position. A golf ball placement aperture is disposed adjacent the distal end. A golf ball disposed on the golf ball delivery track rolls to the golf ball placement aperture when the golf ball delivery track is in the golf ball teeing position. A support means is provided for receiving the golf balls in seriatim from the hopper and presenting each received golf ball for subsequent delivery to the track. An actuation means is provided for moving the golf ball delivery track from the lowered rest position to the raised ball teeing position and subsequently back to the lowered rest position, and for selectively delivering the golf balls presented by the support means sequentially onto the golf ball delivery track for subsequent placement on the tee.

[0018] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the golf ball teeing device according to the present invention, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the golf ball teeing device according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, and use, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front of a preferred embodiment of the golf ball teeing device according to the present invention, showing the golf ball delivery track in a lowered rest position in solid lining, and in a raised ball teeing position in dashed lining;

[0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the preferred embodiment of the golf ball teeing device of FIG. 1, showing the golf ball delivery track in a lowered rest position in solid lining, and in a raised ball teeing position in dashed lining;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the golf ball teeing device of FIG. 1, with a portion of the housing cut away;

[0023]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiment of the golf ball teeing device of FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a front end elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the golf ball teeing device of FIG. 1;

[0025]FIG. 6 is a back end elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the golf ball teeing device of FIG. 1;

[0026]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the golf ball teeing device of FIG. 1, with the ball delivering track in a lowered rest position;

[0027]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the golf ball teeing device of FIG. 1, with the ball delivering track in a raised ball-delivering position;

[0028]FIG. 9 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 7, with a portion of the housing cut away, and showing a first golf ball on the elevated golf ball supporting platform ready to be dispensed, and a second golf ball leaving the hopper and about to roll onto the elevated golf ball supporting platform;

[0029]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 8, with a portion of the housing cut away, and showing a first golf ball having been lifted from the elevated golf ball supporting platform, and a second golf ball leaving the hopper and about to roll onto the elevated golf ball supporting platform;

[0030]FIG. 11 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 10, showing the first golf ball rolling along the golf ball delivery track toward the tee;

[0031]FIG. 12 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 11, showing the first golf ball having reached the end of the golf ball delivery track directly above the tee;

[0032]FIG. 13 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 12, showing the golf ball delivery track lowering such that the first golf ball is on the tee and the second golf ball has rolled into the golf ball receiving aperture in the elevated golf ball supporting platform; and,

[0033]FIG. 14 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 13, showing the golf ball delivery track lowered all of the way down to its lowered rest position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0034] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 through 14, which show a preferred embodiment of a golf ball teeing device 20 for placing serially dispensed golf balls 22 onto a tee 24 one golf ball at a time, according to the present invention. In brief, the golf ball teeing device 20 comprises a base member 30, a housing 40, golf ball hopper 50, a golf ball delivery track 60, a support means 70 for receiving golf balls 22 the hopper 50, and actuation means 80, as will be described in detail subsequently.

[0035] As can be seen in the drawings, the golf ball teeing device 20 comprises a base member 30 in the form of a metal plate. A means for levelling the base member 30 comprises a pair of threaded feet 32 threadibly engaged in the base member 30. A levelling indicator 34 mounted on the top of the base member 30 is used to help adjust the base member 30 to a level orientation. A plastic mat 36 having short artificial turf 37 thereon is secured to the base member 30 by a plurality of threaded fasteners 38 on the top of the plastic mat 36. The plastic mat 36 has a recess 39 that accommodates the golf ball delivery track 60. The tee 24 has its base 25 under the base member 30, as seen in FIG. 4, and projects through the base member 30 and through a golf ball placement aperture 68 in the golf ball delivery track 60.

[0036] The golf ball teeing device 20 further comprises a housing 40 secured to the base member 30 by means of threaded fasteners 41 (see FIG. 4). The housing 40 substantially covers the support means 70 and the actuation means 80. A handle means comprising a handle 42 is pivotally mounted on top of the housing 40 and is used to carry the golf ball teeing device 20.

[0037] A golf ball hopper 50 is mounted on the base member 30 by four threaded fasteners 52 and is for receiving and retaining a plurality of golf balls 22 therein. The hopper 50 has a helically-shaped storage and delivery channel 54 for receiving golf balls 22 thereon. The preferred embodiment hopper 50, as illustrated, comprises a plurality of modules 50 a, 50 a, 50 c stacked vertically one on top of another. Each of the modules 50 a, 50 b, 50 c has a helically-shaped storage and delivery channel 54 for receiving golf balls 22 thereon. The golf balls 22 are retained in single file in this helically-shaped storage and delivery channel 54, thus precluding jamming of the golf balls 22 when they exit the hopper 50, as will be discussed in greater detail subsequently.

[0038] A golf ball delivery track 60 has a proximal end 62 and a distal end 64, and is substantially straight between the proximal end 62 and the distal end 64. The golf ball delivery track 60 is mounted adjacent its proximal end 62 in vertically sliding relation on a pair of co-operating vertically disposed posts 66. It is also possible to mount the golf ball delivery track 60 on only one vertically disposed post or more than two vertically disposed posts, as desired. The golf ball delivery track 60 can also be mounted in other manners, if desired.

[0039] In this above described manner, the golf ball delivery track 60 is mounted on the base member 30 for substantially vertical travel between a lowered rest position, as seen in solid lining in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a raised ball teeing position, as seen in dashed lining in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the golf ball delivery track 60 is in its lowered rest position, it is received and protectively retained in the recess 39 in the plastic mat 36, so as to preclude it from being hit during a swing of a golf club.

[0040] Preferably, the golf ball delivery track 60 is spring biased toward the lowered rest position by means of coil springs 67 mounted one around each of the two vertically disposed posts 66 and each extending between the top of the housing 40 and a co-operating nylon bushing 88 slidably engaged on the respective vertically disposed post 66 and secured to the golf ball delivery track 60.

[0041] The golf ball placement aperture 68 in the golf ball delivery track 60 is disposed adjacent its distal end 64. The golf ball delivery track 60 is angled slightly downwardly toward the golf ball placement aperture 68 when the base member 30 is level and when the when the golf ball delivery track 60 is in the golf ball teeing position. Accordingly, a golf ball 22 disposed on the golf ball delivery track 60 rolls to the golf ball placement aperture 68 when the golf ball delivery track 60 is in the golf ball teeing position.

[0042] A support means 70 is provided for receiving the golf balls 22 in seriatim from the hopper 50 and presenting each received golf ball for subsequent delivery to the track. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the support means 70 comprises an elevated golf ball supporting platform 72 that is suspended from the top of the housing 40 by two vertically disposed plates 74. The elevated golf ball supporting platform 72 has a golf ball receiving aperture 76 therein, as is best seen in FIG. 3, for receiving golf balls 22 in seriatim from the hopper 50. The golf ball receiving aperture 76 has a effective diameter smaller than the diameter of the golf balls 22, so that the golf balls 22 will not merely drop through the golf ball receiving aperture 76. Alternatively, a recess in the elevated golf ball supporting platform 72 could be used in place of the golf ball receiving aperture 76.

[0043] As can be best seen in FIG. 3, the elevated golf ball supporting platform 72 has a track-facing opening 78 therein in communication with the golf ball receiving aperture 76, for assisting in directing golf balls 22 onto the golf ball delivery track 60.

[0044] The proximal end 62 of the golf ball delivery track 60 is vertically aligned with the golf ball receiving aperture 76, so as to permit the proximal end 62 of the golf ball delivery track 60 to lift a golf ball out of the golf ball receiving aperture 76 in the elevated golf ball supporting platform 72, when the golf ball delivery track 60 travels to its raised ball teeing position, such that the golf ball falls onto the golf ball delivery track 60.

[0045] Preferably, the golf ball delivery track 60 includes a upwardly protruding portion 69 disposed at the proximal end 62 thereof so as to contact a golf ball, to thereby lift the golf ball out of the golf ball receiving aperture 76, as aforesaid. The upwardly protruding portion 69 includes a forwardly facing sloped top face 69 a for contacting a golf ball disposed in the golf ball receiving aperture 76 in the elevated golf ball supporting platform 72, and urging the golf ball forwardly past the track-facing opening 78 and onto the golf ball delivery track 60.

[0046] There is also an actuation means 80 for moving the golf ball delivery track 60 from the lowered rest position to the raised ball teeing position and subsequently back to the lowered rest position. The actuation means 80 is also for selectively delivering the golf balls 22 presented by the support means 70 sequentially onto the golf ball delivery track 60 for subsequent placement on the tee.

[0047] In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the actuation means 80 comprises a substantially horizontally disposed axle 82 extending through the housing 40 and pivotally mounted within two vertically disposed support plates 83 secured to the base member 30 on opposed sides of the housing 40. At least one paddle 84 projects transversely from the substantially horizontally disposed axle 82, and in the preferred embodiment illustrated, equivalent left and right paddles 84 project transversely from the substantially horizontally disposed axle 82 and are disposed exteriorly to the housing 40. The left and right paddles 84 are readily accessible to a golf club held by a golfer using the golf ball teeing device 20 of the present invention so that golf balls 22 may be easily dispensed onto the tee, as desired. At least one track actuating arm 86 also projects transversely from the substantially horizontally disposed axle 82 so as to engage the golf ball delivery track 60. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, two track actuating arms 86 (only one shown—see FIGS. 8 and 9) project transversely from the substantially horizontally disposed axle 82 so as to each engage a nylon bushing 88 slidably engaged on the respective vertically disposed post 66 and secured to the golf ball delivery track 60.

[0048] Reference will now be made to FIGS. 9 through 14 to discuss the golf ball teeing device 20 of the present invention in use. As can be seen in FIG. 9, a first golf ball 22 a to be dispensed is disposed on the elevated golf ball supporting platform 72 ready to be dispensed onto the golf ball delivery track 60, and a second golf ball leaving the hopper 50 and about to roll onto the elevated golf ball supporting platform 72. In order to dispense a golf ball and have it placed on a tee, one of the two paddles 84 is pushed downwardly, preferably by the head of a golf club. The downward movement of the paddle 84 being pushed causes the substantially horizontally disposed axle 82 to rotate as indicated by arrow “A” in FIG. 10. The two track actuating arms are correspondingly caused to move pivotally upwardly so as to engage the proximal end 62 of the golf ball delivery track 60, and thus lift the golf ball delivery track 60 upwardly along the two vertically disposed posts 66, from its lowered rest position as can be best seen in FIG. 9, to its raised ball teeing position as can be best seen in FIG. 10. As the golf ball delivery track 60 approaches its raised ball teeing position, the forwardly facing sloped top face 69 a of the upwardly protruding portion 69 contacts the golf ball disposed in the golf ball receiving aperture 76 of the elevated golf ball supporting platform 72, to thereby lift the golf ball out of the golf ball receiving aperture 76, as can be seen in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 also shows that a second golf ball 22 leaves the hopper 50 and is about to roll onto the elevated golf ball supporting platform 72.

[0049] The golf ball moves past the track-facing opening 78 in the elevated golf ball supporting platform 72 and is received on the golf ball delivery track 60. The golf ball rolls slowly along the slightly downwardly slanted golf ball delivery track 60, as can be seen in FIG. 11, to the golf ball placement aperture 68 disposed at the distal end 64 of the golf ball delivery track 60, as can be sen in FIG. 12. When the golf ball reaches the golf ball placement aperture 68, the paddle 84 of the actuator means can be released to permit the golf ball delivery track 60 to move downwardly, as shown in FIG. 13, under the aid of gravity and the coil springs 67, to deposit the golf ball onto the tee 24. The second golf ball concurrently rolls into the golf ball receiving aperture 76 in the elevated golf ball supporting platform 72. The golf ball delivery track 60 continues to lower into the recess 39, as is shown in FIG. 14, where it is safely hidden from a swinging golf club.

[0050] As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a golf ball teeing device, that is accurate in placing golf balls on a tee, which feature is unknown in the prior art.

[0051] Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the golf ball teeing device of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims. 

I claim:
 1. A golf ball teeing device for placing serially dispensed golf balls onto a tee one at a time, said golf ball teeing device comprising: a base member; a hopper mounted on said base member for receiving and retaining a plurality of golf balls; a golf ball delivery track having a proximal end and a distal end, and mounted adjacent said proximal end on said base member for substantially vertical travel between a lowered rest position and a raised ball teeing position, and having a golf ball placement aperture disposed adjacent said distal end, wherein a golf ball disposed on said golf ball delivery track rolls to said golf ball placement aperture when said golf ball delivery track is in said golf ball teeing position; support means for receiving said golf balls in seriatim from said hopper and presenting each received golf ball for subsequent delivery to said track; and, actuation means for moving said golf ball delivery track from said lowered rest position to said raised ball teeing position and subsequently back to said lowered rest position, and for selectively delivering said golf balls presented by said support means sequentially onto said golf ball delivery track for subsequent placement on said tee.
 2. The golf ball teeing device of claim 1, further comprising a housing that substantially covers said support means and said actuation means.
 3. The golf ball teeing device of claim 2, wherein said actuation means comprises a substantially horizontally disposed axle pivotally mounted on said based member, at least one paddle projecting transversely from said substantially horizontally disposed axle and disposed exteriorly to said housing, and at least one track actuating arm projecting transversely from said substantially horizontally disposed axle so as to engage said golf ball delivery track.
 4. The golf ball teeing device of claim 1, wherein said support means comprises an elevated golf ball supporting platform having a golf ball receiving aperture therein, for receiving golf balls in seriatim from said hopper, said golf ball receiving aperture having a effective diameter smaller than the diameter of said golf balls.
 5. The golf ball teeing device of claim 4, wherein said elevated golf ball supporting platform has a track-facing opening therein in communication with said golf ball receiving aperture, for assisting in directing golf balls onto said golf ball delivery track.
 6. The golf ball teeing device of claim 1, wherein said proximal end of said golf ball delivery track is vertically aligned with said golf ball receiving aperture, so as to permit said proximal end of said golf ball delivery track to lift a golf ball out of said golf ball receiving aperture in said elevated golf ball supporting platform, when said golf ball delivery track travels to its raised ball teeing position, such that said golf ball falls onto said golf ball delivery track.
 7. The golf ball teeing device of claim 6, wherein said golf ball delivery track includes a upwardly protruding portion disposed at said proximal end thereof so as to contact a golf ball, to thereby lift said golf ball out of said golf ball receiving aperture, as aforesaid.
 8. The golf ball teeing device of claim 7, wherein said upwardly protruding portion includes a forwardly facing sloped top face for contacting a golf ball disposed in said golf ball receiving aperture in said elevated golf ball supporting platform, and urging said golf ball forwardly past said track-facing opening.
 9. The golf ball teeing device of claim 1, wherein said golf ball delivery track is mounted in vertically sliding relation on at least one substantially vertically disposed post.
 10. The golf ball teeing device of claim 9, wherein said golf ball delivery track is spring biased toward said lowered rest position.
 11. The golf ball teeing device of claim 1, wherein said hopper has a helically-shaped storage and delivery channel for receiving golf balls thereon.
 12. The golf ball teeing device of claim 11, wherein said hopper comprises a plurality of modules stacked vertically one on top of another, each module has a helically-shaped storage and delivery channel for receiving golf balls thereon.
 13. The golf ball teeing device of claim 1, further comprising a levelling indicator.
 14. The golf ball teeing device of claim 13, further comprising means for levelling said base member.
 15. The golf ball teeing device of claim 1, further comprising handle means mounted on said housing.
 16. The golf ball teeing device of claim 15, wherein said handle means comprises a handle pivotally mounted on said housing.
 17. A golf ball teeing device for placing serially dispensed golf balls onto a tee one at a time, said golf ball teeing device comprising: a base member; a hopper mounted on said base member for receiving and retaining a plurality of golf balls; a golf ball delivery track having a proximal end and a distal end, and being substantially straight between said proximal end and said distal end, and mounted adjacent said proximal end on said base member for movement between a lowered rest position and a raised ball teeing position, and having a golf ball placement aperture disposed adjacent said distal end, wherein a golf ball disposed on said golf ball delivery track rolls to said golf ball placement aperture when said golf ball delivery track is in said golf ball teeing position; support means for receiving said golf balls one at a time from said hopper and presenting each received golf ball for subsequent delivery to said track; and, actuation means for moving said golfiball delivery track from said lowered rest position to said raised ball teeing position and subsequently back to said lowered rest position, and for selectively delivering said golf balls presented by said support means sequentially onto said golf ball delivery track for subsequent placement on said tee. 